Human impacts on pollination, reproduction and breeding systems in tropical dry forest plants

QUESADA MAURICIO; ROSAS FERNANDO; AGUILAR RAMIRO; ASHWORTH LORENA; ROSAS-GUERRERO VICTOR; SAYAGO ROBERTO; LOBO JORGE; HERRERIAS-DIEGO YVONNE; SANCHEZ-MONTOYA GUMERSINDO

Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests: Ecology and Conservartion

Island Press

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2011; p. 173 - 193

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> In this study we made an exhaustive compilation of data on plant reproductive traits and performed a quantitative analysis to evaluate the impacts of fragmentation on plant-pollinator interactions, plant phenology, reproductive dynamics and genetic parameters of tropical forest. We also described and compared the pollinations systems, the reproductive traits and the life history of plants in tropical forests. Finally, based on the traits and ecological process determining plant reproduction, we made an attempt to predict the vulnerability patterns of tropical plant species to forest fragmentation. Results showed that fragmentation have a negative significant effect on pollination, plant reproduction and genetic diversity. The main pollinators of species included in the meta-analysis were small insects and native bees that have a limited capacity of fly between remnant fragments. Such restriction may be translated in pollen limitation, geitonogamy and inbreeding all together reducing plant reproduction. Environmental changes caused by fragmentation may alter also flowering and fruiting phenology. Thus, the changes in the timing of reproductive process together with the negative effects of fragmentation on spatial reproductive isolation may result in relevant changes in matting patterns increasing the vulnerability of plants to habitat deterioration. Results showed that 76 % of the species are self-incompatible or dioecious. Hence, we predict that disruption of pollination mutualisms caused by forest fragmentation would make vulnerable those obligate outcrossing species particularly dioecious plants pollinated by small insects with restricted flying movement. Finally, given the high incidence of obligated outcrossing and the elevated proportion of animal pollination in the tropics, it could be predicted that plant reproductive response to forest deterioration would be intensified because the high probability that self-incompatibility and pollinator specialization interact with each other.